Pocket lighter



June 9, 1931.y w 1 BUTLER 1,809,548

POCKET LIGHTER Filed April 11, 19528 IN V EN TOR.

A TTORNEYS.

Patented June 9, 1931 Y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 'WILLIAM J. BUTLER, OE c EaNsToN, EIIODE IsLAND, AssIGNOEf'ro HENRY LEDEEEE as EEO. INC., OE PROVIDENCE, EIIODE ISLAND, A CORPORATION OE EIIOnEIsLANn POCKET LIGHTER Application med April 11,

rThis-invention relates toa pocket lighter; and has for its object to provide a construction which may be easily and quickly assembled by Afriction fitting parts so that its working parts may be" disassembled without unsoldering.

A further' object of` the invention is the provision of friction means for removably holding the operating wheels in position.

A still further-object of the invention'is the provision of detachable frictionally secured means for :blocking the removal of the friction and thumb wheels.

`This invention further consistsin the forming of a sheet metal bottomplate by pressing operationsto eliminate several steps heretofore necessary in vthe forming of the same.

With these and other objects in vigw7 the invention consists of certain novel features of claim.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a lighter constructed in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a top view thereof. f

Figure 3 is a fragmental sectional view thru the spark producing mechanism mounted on the top of the fuel reservoir.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the friction and thumb wheels.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the head securing pin.

Figure 6 is a sectional View of the tubular post for rotatably supporting the wheels.

Figure 7 is a top view of a pyrophoric tube.

first construction, as will be more fully described,- and particularly pointed out in the appendedv 1928. ,Serial No. 269,263.

y Figure 15 is a fragmental section of the bottom part rof the fuel-reservoir showing the closure plug in position.

'It is found in practice desirableV to occasionally remove the operating wheels from their positions in a pocket lighter7 and in orderto mount the wheels in such a way that this may be easily `andreadily accomplished without the necessity of disconnecting the soldered parts, I have mounted these wheels on a tubular posty and positioned a headed friction pin in the bore of the tubular post to prevent removal of the friction wheel therefrom; and in order to further prevent removalV of the parts in case the friction and thumb wheelsy are separate elements, I have used a press fit for positioningthe pyrophoric tube in a horizontal bore of its support with the end of the tube eX- tending over the thumbwheel to prevent the same from lifting from the lighter and have also knurled or roughened one of the contacting surfaces between the bore and pyrophoric tube to more firmly secure the same in position. Further, in forming the bottom wall of the fuel reservoir the same has heretofore 'been made of comparatively heavy stock and struck with a drop `hammer or the like to draw the stock into position required for pro.- viding a. thread-receiving portion to retain the closure plug in position and then drilling orfreaming out the bottom surface'to provide a recess for the head of the closure plug, and in order to avoid these expensive operations, 1 have formed the bottomk plate of thin sheet stock and pressed the same into position to receive the threads and head of the closure vplug thereby eliminating the more expensive drop hammer and drilling or reaming operations above described; and the following is a detailed description of vthe present embodiments of this invention and illustrating one construction by which these advantageousresults may be accomplished: E'

. With referenceV to the drawings, 16 is the fuel reservoir having a top plate 17V and a bottom plate 18. Upon the top plate there is mounted a trunnion post 19 having a tubular upper part formed by a bore 20 extending thereinto. Al collar 21 is formed to provide a shoulder to engage the top plate 17 When inserted thereinto and soldered as at 22, as illustrated in Figure 3, to secure the same in upstanding position on the top Wall.

The friction Wheel 23 and thumb Wheel 24 are here illustrated as formed in a single unit altho for the purpose 'of this invention they may be separate so long as they are so connected as to function together. These Wheels are rotatably mounted on the post 19 and prevented from lifting from position by the head 26 of a friction pin 25 which is positioned in the bore 20. This pin member has any desirable press fitrconnection with Athe bore 20. l have illustrated the shank 25 of the pin being tapered lto more lirmlyengage the side Walls ofthe bore 2O as it is pressed into position. The post 19 is of a length slightly longer than the combinedaxial dimensions of the two wheels so that the head 26 may engage the top of this vpost Without binding the Wheels and preventing rotation.

The support 27 is suitablyT secure-d to the top wall of the reservoir and provided with a horizontal 'bore 28 thru which the pyrophoric tube 2'9 extends and frictionally engages therewith to hold the same in the desired position. v

In 'order to increase the fric'tional 'engagement between the bore 28 and the tube 29 I roughen one of theseparts preferably the tube 29 as at 30 to cause a firmer and tighter fitting of the parts as lforced into position by sufficient pressure. The end 31 of this tube is positioned in proximity to the frictionI wheel 23 and extends above the thumb 'wheel 24 so -las to prevent the 'thumb Wheel from being removed from .position until the pyrophoric tube 29 is forced 'back thru its bore 28 to permit such removal. The usual pyrophoric material 82 is positioned inthe tube `29 and forced by means `of a spring 33 and thumb screw 34 into engagement with the friction Wheel to secure the desired pressure thereagainst.

`In case it is desired `to remove the Wheels from the lighter it will, of lcourse, beunde`rstood that the pyrophoric tube is first forced back in the bore 28 and the tapered plug 25 is Withdrawn from the vtubular support which permits removal of the Wheels for repairor replacem'ent'after which the plug may be returned to position and the pyrophoric tube returned to its position 'in the reassembly of the device.

The usual Wick 35 with 'a vclosure cap 36 is provided for ignition and snuirlng out as desired. f i t The bottom Wall of the reservoir is formed of 'sheet stock shown as a'blank 37 in Figure 9 and which, by means'of a ipress, i's formed into the shape illustrated in Figures l() and 1'1 having a recessed part 38 to receive the head ofnthe closure plug 39 andl also with the device. The bottom'plate is then pierced as at 41 and the stock about this piercing rolled to enlarge the opening and at the same time provide a collar 42 Which is internally' threaded as at 43 to receive the threads 44: of the closure plug to hold the plug i-n p0- sition and tightly seal the reservoir and prevent evaporation of the volatile fuel therefrom. y The foregoing description is directed sole= ly towards the construction illustrated, but I desire it to be understood that I reserve the privilege of resorting to all the mechanical changes to Which the device is susceptible, the invention being defined and limited 'only by the terms of the appended claim.

I claim:

In a pocket lighter, -a fuel reservoir, a tubulai` post upstanding from said reservoir.,

a vcombined friction Wheel and thumb Wheel element rotatably mounted on said post, a pin frictionally engaging the bore of said post and having a head projecting over said Wheel element to lock the same on said post,

a vertical standard on -said reservoir having z a transverse bore, and a pyrophoric tube frictio'nally engaging the transverse lbore and having its end extending over the thumb Wheel to additionally lock said Wheel element on said post.

ln testimony whereof l aHX mysignature.

WILLIAM J. BUTLER.

flanges 40 for fitting overthe fuel tank of fies Vffl n 

